Saudi officials say they have stopped more than 269,000 Muslims without permits for the Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca.

Millions of Muslims are preparing to undertake Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and one of the central pillars of Islam. Among them are British pilgrims getting ready to travel from London, each with their own hopes for the days ahead.

Mecca: Saudi Arabia launches Hajj permit crackdown in bid to stop heat deaths - Saudi officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city